Great picture of people in Wigan getting on with those day today tasks - look carefully at the posters ref Soul All-nighters 

10 hours ago, Zoomsoulblue said:

Great picture of people in Wigan getting on with those day today tasks - look carefully at the posters ref Soul All-nighters 

For those not in the know, the main entrance to the Casino is where the chap in the light raincoat is standing holding his shopping bag - the doorway was barely two people wide, and when the soulies were admitted, one half of the door was in the shut position hence the huge crush to get in. Behind the Empress sign was the Beachcomber, a free warm-up venue opened up whilst the main hall was being prepared for the Allnighter.

This photo appeared last year with a few others, a couple taken from the flats across the road, Darbs, Jacko, Russ and a few others in separate shots too.

Edited April 12, 20223 yr by Chalky

Interesting. The old railway station would have been great for access. Just cross the road.

1 hour ago, Steve G said:

Interesting. The old railway station would have been great for access. Just cross the road.

I went to Wigan other day in wagon.  The road network to get there is terrible getting in and out.  

Great shot of the roof there and the skylights.

There was a small hatch opening opposite those on the triangle bit that  you could drop into the cloakroom through (onto the roof from a wall at the side of the entrance to Mr Ms round the back) for anyone having trouble going through the front door for any reason.😉

 

On 12/04/2022 at 09:27, Chalky said:

This photo appeared last year with a few others, a couple taken from the flats across the road, Darbs, Jacko, Russ and a few others in separate shots too.

This one is doing my head in a bit. I never got to the Casino until the mid 70's, and I assume this picture is from earlier days (I can't date it by cars). The car park to the side of the place as shown here, just doesn't ring any memory bells. I seem to recall pulling my old Humber into a very much bigger park, even one that might have run behind our club. And the whole scene opposite ain't coming through to me either.......Is it just me?

I've seen this picture many times over the years, and i do believe it's 1977.

Thanks Kenb.....then it's just the way we are wrong sometimes. Looking at it from this veiw point must be my un-recognition problem.

It can be a little confusing, turning up in a strange town in the pitch black in the middle of the night ,then reappearing into the brightness the next morning full of pharmacueticals, it plays tricks on your memory i found 🤣

Being kicked out at 12:15 am on a Friday night oldies Alnighter in Mr Ms because only 3 soulies and at least 5 djs turned up , the Friday before the 3rd anniversary was very strange when your off your head with nowhere to go and miles from home , and just had to wait 24hrs to do it all again , At least we got our entrance fee  back , and yes Wigan like most places in the 70s spooky in the dark 

Edited April 16, 20223 yr by Happy Feet

16 hours ago, Happy Feet said:

Being kicked out at 12:15 am on a Friday night oldies Alnighter in Mr Ms because only 3 soulies and at least 5 djs turned up , the Friday before the 3rd anniversary was very strange when your off your head with nowhere to go and miles from home , and just had to wait 24hrs to do it all again , At least we got our entrance fee  back , and yes Wigan like most places in the 70s spooky in the dark 

This post interests me Happy Feet......I do believe that you are saying only 3 people turned up to an oldies night in M's, and consequently they stopped the nighter at 12-15am....this is astounding news really, I knew there were a few 'off' nights in the history of our club, but I never heard tell of this one before. And it was seemingly in the Casino's strong period of attendance.

17 minutes ago, Ratt said:

This post interests me Happy Feet......I do believe that you are saying only 3 people turned up to an oldies night in M's, and consequently they stopped the nighter at 12-15am....this is astounding news really, I knew there were a few 'off' nights in the history of our club, but I never heard tell of this one before. And it was seemingly in the Casino's strong period of attendance.

Yes it did ,at least 5djs at least 3 soulies  and 15 mins in Mike Walker came in arms waving in the air shouting " turn it off turn it off ,I told you it wasn't going to work " and immediately the event was called to a halt ,, and the 3 off us where kicked out into the streets at the rear entrance into the September morning which was the main entrance to Mr Ms , I at the time was living ,working in Llandudno but had  planned to do both nighters as had a week end free 

If memory serves me correctly Kenny Spence , Keith Minshull , Richard Searling ,possibly Dave Evison not sure of the others but Ms stage was full , people might think I'm mad but it did happen and maybe some one still alive can possibly verify it .I know one of the lads was local to Wigan but pretty sure the other lad like me had arrived by train .

That's a great, first hand tale to be able to tell Happy Feet......I think 99% of us genuine Casino attenders would be totally gobsmacked by it. It just goes to show that it wasn't all glory for the place like the passed down history has us believing. I have to say that I always found M's to be a totally different experience to the main room. I wouldn't go as far as to say unfriendly, but it sure had a vibe that to the newcomer was intimidating at least. Ah, mate.....I'd give a world of possesions, whatever, to be able to turn the clock back and revisit. Feel it once again, but there you go......memories at least.

5 hours ago, Happy Feet said:

Yes it did ,at least 5djs at least 3 soulies  and 15 mins in Mike Walker came in arms waving in the air shouting " turn it off turn it off ,I told you it wasn't going to work " and immediately the event was called to a halt ,, and the 3 off us where kicked out into the streets at the rear entrance into the September morning which was the main entrance to Mr Ms , I at the time was living ,working in Llandudno but had  planned to do both nighters as had a week end free 

If memory serves me correctly Kenny Spence , Keith Minshull , Richard Searling ,possibly Dave Evison not sure of the others but Ms stage was full , people might think I'm mad but it did happen and maybe some one still alive can possibly verify it .I know one of the lads was local to Wigan but pretty sure the other lad like me had arrived by train .

From the side entrance that went into a reception area you went through doors that overlooked M’s dance floor - This hall from the outside was called Jenny’s or something like that - we got to the casino early one night in Jan winter cold / bouncers let us into the reception area - they were playing rock - out of curiosity I opened the doors only to see two long haired people playing air guitars - rock on 

It was called Gerrys Inn (after Gerry Marshall) a smaller venue again with a small dance floor and bar.

It used to open on a Mondays at one point and serve pints at 20p (when the pubs were charging 50p) a go.

Regularily went to school on a Tuesdays with a bad head.😀

New stories for me to hear from the previous posters. Can anyone explain to me why I have it in my head that the entrance to M's was off the left side of the main room balcony.....almost no lighting on the walk to the door, then seemingly darker still when you got inside the place. I loved my regular spot on that balcony......looking directly at the stage and down on the dancefloor. And the balcony truly did bounce at regular times along with the dancing.

1 hour ago, Ratt said:

New stories for me to hear from the previous posters. Can anyone explain to me why I have it in my head that the entrance to M's was off the left side of the main room balcony.....almost no lighting on the walk to the door, then seemingly darker still when you got inside the place. I loved my regular spot on that balcony......looking directly at the stage and down on the dancefloor. And the balcony truly did bounce at regular times along with the dancing.

Can anyone explain to me why I have it in my head that the entrance to M's was off the left side of the main room balcony.....almost no lighting on the walk to the door, then seemingly darker still when you got inside the place.

Off the main room balcony left hand side (as you looked at the stage) - through a door that took you into another reception area - then doors on the right hand side lead into the dance hall / floor beside the stage - at the end of the reception area in the left hand corner was the stairs / not very wide - even skinny it was hard to pass - that lead up to M's balcony - stage end - if you walked around the balcony - there was another staircase the far end that took you back down to dance floor level Mr M's - I think 🤔

 

On 19/04/2022 at 15:17, Ratt said:

New stories for me to hear from the previous posters. Can anyone explain to me why I have it in my head that the entrance to M's was off the left side of the main room balcony.....almost no lighting on the walk to the door, then seemingly darker still when you got inside the place. I loved my regular spot on that balcony......looking directly at the stage and down on the dancefloor. And the balcony truly did bounce at regular times along with the dancing.

Yes that's right ,but it had its own entrance from the street at the rear of the main building , not forgetting it was a separately run business and nothing to do with the Main room Alnighters , until 21st September 1974 as a one off overflow room due to the demand for tickets , and to alleviate the mass crush in the main room ,I can tell you it was very full , hot and no room on the dance floor and still people on the street outside trying to get in, things could have easily have got out of hand Mike Walker RIP , I don't know how he pulled it off because it was Gerry Marshalls newly refurbished "baby " and we weren't going to get in , we did and the rest is history so they say .

If any one hasn't yet got their hands on  a copy of Steve Whittles The Inside Story Of Mr Ms ,a fascinating look back at one of the most interesting eras of Northern Soul history warts and all 

Edited April 20, 20223 yr by Happy Feet

47 minutes ago, Happy Feet said:

If any one hasn't yet got their hands on  a copy of Steve Whittles The Inside Story Of Mr Ms ,a fascinating look back at one of the most interesting eras of Northern Soul history warts and all 

Tried to get a copy but sold out really quickly - anyone read and wouldn't mind selling it? Or lending 😀

I must admit I love seeing photos of the casino, as it such a long time ago my memory is is getting weaker as time moves on as with everyone else. The last time I attended the casino was the last oldies allnighter in September 1981. In Febuary 1982 I went to Wigan on my recently acquired Honda CB200 for a ride out on it as I had recently passed my motorcycle test and this was the first time I had been on the motorway on a bike. It was a weekend day off work and took quite some time to Get there must have had plenty of time on my hands in those days. I arrived outside the casino parked my bike on the road opposite the casino and had a walk around and walked up the alley at the side of the building till you got to the doorway which opened to the side of the stage where I found it to be open and had I look inside and felt quiet  glad that I had seen the casino inside for the last time. 

2 hours ago, Lucky One said:

I must admit I love seeing photos of the casino, as it such a long time ago my memory is is getting weaker as time moves on as with everyone else. The last time I attended the casino was the last oldies allnighter in September 1981. In Febuary 1982 I went to Wigan on my recently acquired Honda CB200 for a ride out on it as I had recently passed my motorcycle test and this was the first time I had been on the motorway on a bike. It was a weekend day off work and took quite some time to Get there must have had plenty of time on my hands in those days. I arrived outside the casino parked my bike on the road opposite the casino and had a walk around and walked up the alley at the side of the building till you got to the doorway which opened to the side of the stage where I found it to be open and had I look inside and felt quiet  glad that I had seen the casino inside for the last time. 

Very interesting that, thanks for sharing - could you just go inside and have a wander round?

3 hours ago, Lucky One said:

I must admit I love seeing photos of the casino, as it such a long time ago my memory is is getting weaker as time moves on as with everyone else. The last time I attended the casino was the last oldies allnighter in September 1981. In Febuary 1982 I went to Wigan on my recently acquired Honda CB200 for a ride out on it as I had recently passed my motorcycle test and this was the first time I had been on the motorway on a bike. It was a weekend day off work and took quite some time to Get there must have had plenty of time on my hands in those days. I arrived outside the casino parked my bike on the road opposite the casino and had a walk around and walked up the alley at the side of the building till you got to the doorway which opened to the side of the stage where I found it to be open and had I look inside and felt quiet  glad that I had seen the casino inside for the last time. 

Talking about the alley at the side. We went to an oldies anniversary in freezing weather, and were queuing to get in for what seemed like hours. A bouncer came to the back of the line and asked if we wanted to get in quick. We said yes of course and he led us up the alley. We were only 15/16 at the time walking down a dark alley and we figured we were going to have to fight it out. The side door opened and we could see in and the bouncer asked for our money and just let us in. Result !

If you looked at the front on the stage the doors for alley was to your right - near the end of a nighter I used the doors - I still had my tape recording going and as I left the main hall and made my way down the concrete stairs my steel tips / blakeys can be heard on the concrete stairs and the music fading - till I got to the outta doors which lead to the side alley- 👍🏻

8 hours ago, Chris Turnbull said:

Very interesting that, thanks for sharing - could you just go inside and have a wander round?

Yes I could have as there appeared to be no one around, but for some reason I didn't . I supose I was a little apprehensive about going any further into the building which seems daft now but there you go. Within a few weeks the casino caught fire and that was the end of that. I remember when I got home a few hours later telling my mother where I had been on my bike her reply was something along the lines of that did you do that for. Suppose people will never know unless you lived it as we did so glad I went to the casino.

Interestingly enough, when Steve Whittle was a guest on Dave Evison's Radio Derby show, back in the eighties, he commented that declining attendances towards the end of the Wigan era was due, at least in part, to the inauguration of the oldies all-nighters on the first Fridays of the month. Attendances at the following Saturday's all-nighters subsequently declined and eventually attendances at all Saturday nights were affected as punters chose the oldies nights as their priority for attendance. 

Happy Feet's story suggests that trend had yet to take effect in 1976, though the fact that the subsequent night was an anniversary must have had a lot to do with it Apparently, oldies all-nighters started in July 1976 so the night in question would have been only the third one. Did these events take some time to become established as the go-to night for the majority of punters or was the demand for instant nostalgia evident even then?

 

Somebody , must have still a copy of Blues & Soul which would have posted the Pre Anniversary Alnighter, event that flopped , I was still a regular Saturday night supporter , but living and working in Llandudno at the time , and used to make the pilgrimage via Crewe , and if early enough get off the train and spend an hour or so at a pub close to Crewe Station , where they actually held a Northern night and then onto Wigan with quite an entourage of fellow soulies , but that was the regular Saturday night , not the one mentioned earlier that was cancelled before it really got going, would be interesting to find out if anyone turned up to find it closed , The early session in Crewe I'm pretty sure was still going during the Colwyn Bay Alnighter years , same thing get off at Crewe into the Pub , medication, then back onto a packed out carriage cassette player blasting out the latest floorfiller and and a good night had by all ,at the Casino . I seem to remember at the time Dave Evison , leaping off the stage between introducing records and then climbing back up in time to introduce the next one,  Sammy Davies Jnr , then followed by Eddie Parker , he earned his fee not easy at some venues with out steps onto the stage ,

I was at the doomed Alnighter in Colwyn Bay when the doormen had allowed in a few of the local piss heads in and it all kicked off , big style , tables , chairs ,glasses ok if your up for it , but most weren't.

 

On 11/04/2022 at 22:35, Frankie Crocker said:

For those not in the know, the main entrance to the Casino is where the chap in the light raincoat is standing holding his shopping bag - the doorway was barely two people wide, and when the soulies were admitted, one half of the door was in the shut position hence the huge crush to get in. Behind the Empress sign was the Beachcomber, a free warm-up venue opened up whilst the main hall was being prepared for the Allnighter.

thank you for the explanation, your help is appreciated 

Fabulous

On 19/04/2022 at 16:08, Zoomsoulblue said:

Can anyone explain to me why I have it in my head that the entrance to M's was off the left side of the main room balcony.....almost no lighting on the walk to the door, then seemingly darker still when you got inside the place.

Off the main room balcony left hand side (as you looked at the stage) - through a door that took you into another reception area - then doors on the right hand side lead into the dance hall / floor beside the stage - at the end of the reception area in the left hand corner was the stairs / not very wide - even skinny it was hard to pass - that lead up to M's balcony - stage end - if you walked around the balcony - there was another staircase the far end that took you back down to dance floor level Mr M's - I think 🤔

 

I remember a very narrow staircase in Mr Ms, remember feeling un well one night and went up there to rest my head, I dont think I ever found it again !!?

Rob